Antibiotic residues in farmland soils are an emerging global concern, with potential risks for ecosystems, food safety, and human health. Now, researchers in China report a promising new approach to tackling one of the most common culprits—oxytetracycline (OTC)—by combining biochar with carbohydrate-based soil amendments. Their study shows that this simple yet effective strategy not only accelerates the degradation of OTC in soil but also reduces its transfer into lettuce, a widely consumed leafy vegetable.

In a comprehensive meta-analysis that delves into the environmental benefits of biochar, researchers are exploring its impact on reducing N2O emissions from fertilized cropland soils. The study, titled "Biochar Reduces N2O Emission from Fertilized Cropland Soils: A Meta-Analysis," is led by Prof. Xingliang Xu from the Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China, and the College of Resources and Environment at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Huairou District, Beijing, China. This research provides a detailed examination of how biochar can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural settings.

Ever wondered how we can clean wastewater more efficiently? Scientists have discovered that biofilters made from pyrite and sawdust can remove harmful nitrogen compounds through a fascinating mix of bacteria and chemical reactions. Learn how these simple materials could transform wastewater treatment!

Discover how machine learning is helping researchers identify different groups of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in China and understand how their health conditions impact daily life. This new study offers insights into targeted treatments and better quality of life for those living with COPD.

In this study, we propose a high quality-factor (Q-factor) optical cavity that offers a breakthrough solution to the intrinsic trade-off between optical chirality density and mode loss.

The development of female cannabis inflorescences is tightly regulated by day length and plant hormones, with direct implications for fiber, seed, and cannabinoid production. 

Looking for greener building solutions? Scientists have found that non-traditional materials like volcanic ash and calcined clay can be used as sustainable alternatives to cement. These materials offer lower carbon emissions and similar performance to conventional binders. Discover how they work and their potential impact on the construction industry in this new study.

High brightness far-red light plays a crucial role in enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and crop yield in plant factories. Here, Cr³⁺-activated silicate ceramics with near-unity internal quantum efficiency and negligible thermal quenching were developed through full crystallization of glass precursors. Importantly, Ba²⁺ substitution for Ca²⁺ in Y₂CaAl₄SiO₁₂:Cr³⁺ strengthens the local crystal field, tuning the emission into a narrow far-red band well matched with phytochrome absorption. The optimized ceramics enable 27% wall-plug efficiency in far-red pc-LEDs and record 2.1 W output in laser-driven sources, highlighting their potential as robust all-inorganic color converters for high-power plant-growth lighting.

Phase change emulsions (NPCEs) have significant potential for energy storage and temperature regulation due to their high energy density and efficient heat transfer. However, in most conventional NPCEs, performance under low-temperature and shear conditions is often compromised, leading to droplet coalescence and instability. A team of scientists has developed a high-energy ultrasonic regeneration strategy that enables real-time restoration of NPCE performance without interrupting the operation cycle. Their work was published in the journal Industrial Chemistry & Materials on July 28.

Facing the increased severely environmental challenges and energy shortages, the development of new green energy systems to replace the traditional fossil fuels has become more urgent for human being. Hydrogen (H₂) is regarded as the environmentally friendly and renewable energy resource for the future. Its unparalleled virtue lies in the fact that its combustion byproduct is exclusively water. Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) technology is recognized as one of the most promising methods for hydrogen production, while its widespread adoption has been impeded by the high associated costs, its global market share remains negligible, at less than 4%. Reducing the cost of alkaline water electrolysis for the production of green hydrogen is a common challenge for countries around the world. The limited elemental abundance and high cost of noble metal electrocatalysts like Pt and RuO₂ constrain their large-scale application. Therefore, the development of bifunctional non-precious metal electrocatalysts with a high catalytic activity, low cost, and excellent stability is essential to significantly improve the energy efficiencies of AWE.